Community Sport Minister Ros Spence said applications are now open for the Sporting Club Grants Programme, which has benefited greatly by the addition of $6 million to the fund this year. In excess of 1,200 clubs received funding in 2020.
The grants can assist by up to $1,000 in the area of equipment and uniforms, and $5,000 for the training of volunteers, officials and coaches, or for improving operational effectiveness of a club. Also to be included is a category relating to COVID Recovery, which makes an amount of up to $5,000 available to assist sports to get up and running again following the pandemic.
Spence said she hopes the fund will also help to boost the number of local participants and allow them to move to higher levels in their chosen sport. She added:
“We want community clubs to come back better than ever and this boost will go a long way towards helping clubs, coaches, athletes and officials get back in the game.”
Many sporting clubs in need of extra funding have often relied on flyer printing campaigns to attract interest and support from the community.
The grants programme was introduced to improve accessibility to sport, while also making it more inclusive and boosting participation by locals.